Suitcase.



H. TUBGKMANTEL.

SUITCASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915'.

ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS Co.. FHOTO LITHO,. WASHINGIUN. D

H. TUEGKMANTEL.

SUITCASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1913.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

/I[III/III!lll/(Il/IIII/IIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIII/III RNEYS THE NORRISPETERS co. PHOTO-LITHO WASHING roN. u.

HUGO TUECKMANTEL, 0F IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO THE R. NEUMANN HARDWARE 60.. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SUITCASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed March 10, 1913. Serial No. 753,193.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Huoo TUECKMANTEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suitcases; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in suitcases,and receptacles of a similar character; and this inven tion relates,more particularly, to a novel construction of metal frame for the bodyof a suit-case or like receptacle, and a novel means for pivotallyconnecting the coverframe thereof to the frame of the body of thereceptacle.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a noveland simply constructed metal frame for the body of a suit-case, or othersuitable receptacle, having an overlapping cover, with a view ofproviding a positive means for readily securing the marginaledge-portions of the sides of the body of the receptacle to the metalframe; and, also to provide a surrounding off-set, commonly termed inthe art as the bevel, with which the surrounding edge-portions of thecover can be brought into perfect registration, when closed, so as toprovide a neat overlapping relation of the cover with the body of thereceptacle.

The invention has for its further object to provide a simple andeffective, as well as a strong means of construction for hinging orpivotally connecting the cover with the body of the receptacle, toobviate the danger of breaking the cover or body-portions with theconstant opening and closing of the cover.

The invention has for its further object to provide a metal framecomprising such other new and improved constructions and arrangements ofparts which is more readily applicable to suit cases or otherreceptacles,

the bodies and covers of which are made of fiber, paper, leather, orstraw-fabric, here inafter fully set forth.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly evident from the followingdetailed description of the said invention.

With the various objects of the said invention in view, the inventionconsists, primarily, in the novel suit-case or receptacleconstructionhereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in thenovel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, aswell as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all ofwhich will be more fully described in the following specification, andthen finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended toand which form an essential part of this specification.

v The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a top-edge view of a suit-case or receptacle, madeaccording to and embodving the principles of the present invention, thecover being shown in its closed relation with the body and its bevel ofthe suit-case or receptacle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the suit-case orreceptacle, the body and cover being represented in their openedrelation. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section, on an enlarged scale,said section being taken on line 3-3 in said Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is adetail vertical section, also on an enlarged scale, said section beingtaken on line H in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow:12. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 55 in saidFig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow 1 and Fig. 6 is a similarsection, taken 011 line 6-6 in said Fig. 4, also looking in thedirection of the arrow y. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe corner-portions of the metal frame with which the body of thesuit-case or receptacle is provided; Fig. 8 is a top-edge view of theparts represented in said Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a face view of a portionof the metal bodyframe, before being transformed into the angularcorner-portion represented in said Figs. 7 and 8.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the said above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the.

reference-character 1 indicates the body of the suit-case, or othersuitable receptacle, and 2 indicates the cover of the same, both ofwhich may be made of fiber, paper, leather, straw or any other fabric.The metal body-frame which is made of sheet metal, and which is securedto the marginal edge-portions of the sides of the said body 1 in themanner to be presently set forth, is preferably made in two sections,one of which, as 3, is connected with the front and the two end membersof the said body, and the other member 42 is connected with the back orrear member of said body. The said frame-section 3 comprises aninnerbodyportion 5 which is adapted to be arranged against the innerface-portions of the said front and end-members of the body 1, at theupper marginal portions of said front and end-members, the upper edge ofthe said body-portion 5 of the strip of metal being curved outwardly anddownwardly,

' as at 6, so as to form a smooth and preferably rounded upper edge orconnecting member, substantially as shown in the sev eral figures of thedrawings. Extending downwardly from the said upper rounded edge 6 of thestrip of metal is an outer portion or member 7' of less depth than thedepth of the body-portion 5, said portion or member 7' being locatedupon the outer faces of the upper surface-portions of the front andend-members of the body 1, andprovides with said body-portion 5 of thestrip of metal, a recess or receiving part, as 8, in which the upperedge-portions of the front and end-members of the body 1 are arrangedand are clamped therein in the manner to be presently. described. Uponthe lower marginal edge-portion of the said member 7 is an outwardlyextending, and downwardly and inwardly curved bead-like member, as 9,terminating at a point beneath the said recess or receiving part 8 in aslightly upwardly projecting or .angularly arranged biting or clampingedge 10, the bead-like member 9 providing a seat upon the outer portionsof the metal body-frame with which the frame of the cover 2, to behereinafter more fully described is adapted to be brought into perfectregistration and with which seat the frame of the cover co5perates toprovide a perfect closure of the cover with the bod} of the receptacle.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will --be seen, that theframe-section 3 is bent at the corners 11 and 12 in such a manner so asto provide open spaces upon the outer portions of the frame-section atsaid cor- ,n'er's, the member 7 and the bead-like memher 9 at saidpoints being suitably cut away,

to permit of the proper bending and angu' lar arrangement of theframe-section at these points. It will be understood, however, from aninspection of Figs. 7 8 and 9, that at the proper points the mainbodyportion of the strip of metal may be cut away, as at 13, thebead-like member 9 being also suitably cut away, as at 14, see Fig. 9,which enables the frame-section to be bent, as indicated in said Figs. 7and 8, so as to provide the frame upon its outer portions with solid orunbroken corners, as will be clearly evident.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen, that attheir free end-portions, the sidemembers of the framesection 3 areprovided with laterally and inwardly projecting ears or lugs, as 15,bent at right angles from the end-portions of the main body-strip 5,said ears or lugs 15 being suitably perforated and having ecured theretoby means of rivets 16, the previously-mentioned rear or back-strip Thisrear or back-strip 4: comprises an inner bodyportion 17 which is adaptedto be arranged against the inner face-portion of the back or rear memberof the body 1 of the receptacle, at the upper marginal portion of saidback or rear member, the upper edge of the said body-portion 17 beingcurved outwardly and downwardly, as at 18, so as to form a smooth androunded upper edge. Extending downwardly from the said upper roundededge 18 is a downwardly extending portion or member 19 which is locatedupon the outer face of the upper portion of the said back or rear memberof the body 1 of the receptacle, and provides with the said.body-portion 17 a suitable recess or receiving part, as 20, in whichtheupper edgeportion of the back or rear member of the body 1 isarrangedand clamped. At suitable intervals, along the entire length ofthe said downwardly extending portion or member 19, and connected withthe lower marginal edge-portion of said member 19, are a series ofcurled pintle-receiving ears or members 21, as illustrated moreparticularly in Figs. 4: and 5 of the drawings.

Suitably inelosing the marginal edgeportions of the front, ends, and therear or back-member of the cover 2 of the suitcase or other receptacleis a cover-frame-section, as 22, said frame-section, in this case,consisting of a number of sectional members, as 23, which are bent so asto provide channel-members which are slipped over the marginal edges ofthe front, ends, and the rear or back member of the cover, as will beevident from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, andare secured together at their respective meeting ends, so as to providethe cover-frame-section, by

means of suitable corner-pieces 2t and rivets 25, the frame-sectionwhich isthus produced being at the same time secured to the said front,ends, and the back or rear member of the cover 2 by means of the saidrivets 25. That the said cover 2 may be hinged to the body 1 of thesuit-case or other receptacle, there is secured upon the rear or baclrsection of the said cover-frame-section, by means of rivets 26, or inany other suitable manner, a strip of metal, as 27, which is providedupon its upper marginal edge-portions, and at suitable intervals, so asto be fitted between the previously-mentioned pintle-receiving ears ormembers 21, with upwardly extending curled pintle-receiving ears ormembers 28. These ears 28 are pivotally connected with the ears 21 bymeans of a long pintle-rod 29, in the manner clearly represented inFigs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The simplicity of the construction of the several parts of the two metalframe-sections and the manner of easily and quickly securing them intheir operative positions upon the body and cover of the receptacle, aswell as the manner in which the cover is thus caused to perfectlyregister and close with the body of the receptacle is clearly obviousfrom the foregoing description of the present invention and from aninspection of the several figures of the drawings.

I am also fully aware that changes may be made in the generalarrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as wellas in the details of the construction of the frame-sections, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth in theforegoing specification and as defined in the clauses of the claim whichare appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to theexact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof and acover therefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of saidbody, said frame comprising a pair of vertically disposed portions andan upper connecting member, arranged to provide a receiving part inwhich the upper portions of the body are arranged, an off-set extendingoutwardly from one of said vertically d sposed portions and located uponthe outer face-portions of said body, said offset forming a seat, and aclamping edgeportion extending inwardly from said offset in bitingengagement with the said outer face-portions of said body, said coverregistering with said frame and cooperating with said seat to provide aperfect closure of said cover with said body.

2. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprising apair of vertically disposed portions and an upper connecting member,arranged to provide a receiving part in which the upper portions of thebody are arranged, an offset extending outwardly from one of saidvertically disposed portions and located upon the outer face-portions ofsaid body, said off-set forming a seat, and a clamping edge-portionextending inwardly from said. off-set in biting engagement with the saidouter face-portions of said body, combined with a cover, a channelshaped frame arranged over the marginal edge-portions of said cover, anda means of pivotal connection between said channel-shaped frame and theframe of said body, said channel-shaped frame of the cover registeringwith the frame of said body and cooperating with said seat to provide aperfect closure of said cover with said body.

3. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, and a covertherefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising an inner body-portion adapted to be arranged uponthe inner face-portions of said body at the upper marginal edge-portionsthereof, said inner body-portion being formed upon its upper marginaledge-portion with a curved outwardly and downwardly extending con-,ecting member, an outer member extending downwardly from saidconnecting member, said outer member being of less depth than the depthof said inner body-portion and forming with said inner body-portion areceiving part in which the upper portions of the body are arranged, andan off-set forming a seat extending outwardly from said verticallydisposed outer member and located upon the outer face-portions of saidbody, and at a point below the said connecting member, said coverregistering with said frame and coiiperating with said seat to provide aperfect closure of said cover with said body.

4-. In. a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, and a covertherefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising an inner body-portion adapted to be arranged uponthe inner face-portions of said body at the upper marginal edge-portionsthereof, said inner body-portion being formed upon its upper marginaledge-portion with a curved outwardly and downwardly extending connectingmember, an outer member extending downwardly from said connectingmember, said outer member being of less depth. than the depth of saidinner body-portion and forming with said inner body-portion a re ceivingpart in which the upper portions of the body are arranged, an off-setforming a seat extending outwardly from said vertically disposed outermember and located upon the outer face-portions of said body, and at apoint below said connecting member, and a clamping edge-portionextending inwardly from said off-set in biting engagement with the saidouter face-portions of said body, said cover registering with said frameand cooperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure of saidcover with said body.

5. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprising aninner body-portion adapted to be arranged upon the inner face-portionsof said body at the upper marginal edgeportions thereof, said innerbody-portion being formed upon its upper marginal edgeportion with acurved outwardly and downwardly extending connecting member, an outermember extending downwardly from said connecting member, said outermember being of less depth than the depth of said inner body-portion andforming with said inner body-portion a receiving part in which the upperportions of the body are arranged, an ofi-set forming a seat extendingoutwardly from said vertically disposed outer member and located uponthe outer faceportions of said body, and at a point below saidconnecting member, combined with a cover, a channel-shaped framearranged over the marginal edge-portions of said cover, and a means ofpivotal connection between said channel-shaped frame and the frame ofsaid body, said channel-shaped frame of the cover registering with theframe of said body and coiiperating with said seat to provide a perfectclosure of said cover with said body.

6. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprising aninner body-portion adapted to be arranged upon the inner face-portionsof said body at the upper marginal edgeportions thereof, said innerbody-portion being formed upon its upper marginal edgeportion with acurved outwardly and downwardly extending connecting member, an outermember extending downwardly from said connecting member, said outermember being of less depth than the depth of said inner body-portion andforming with said inner body-portion a receiving part in which the upperportions of the body are arranged, an off-set forming a seat extendingoutwardly from said vertically disposed outer member and located uponthe outer faceportions of said body, and at a point below saidconnecting member, and a clamping edge-portion extending inwardly fromsaid off-set in biting engagement with the said outer face-portions ofsaid body, combined with a cover, a channel-shaped frame arranged overthe marginal edge-portions of said cover, and a means of pivotalconnection between said channel-shaped frame and the frame of said body,said channel-shaped frame of the cover registering with the frame ofsaid body and cooperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure ofsaid cover with said body.

7. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof and a covertherefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising a pair of vertically disposed portions and anupper connecting member, arranged to provide areceiving part in whichthe upper portions of the body are arranged, one of said verticallydisposed portions being provided at pro-determined points with cut awayparts, and an off-set forming a seat extending outwardly from one ofsaid vertically disposed portions and located upon the outerfaceportions of said body, said cover registering with said frame andcoiiperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure of said coverwith said body.

8. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof and a covertherefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising a pair of vertically disposed portions and anupper connecting member. arranged to provide a receiving part in whichthe upper portions of the body are arranged, one of said verticallydisposed portions being provided at predetermined points with cut awayparts, an off-set forming a seat extending out wardly from one of saidvertically disposed portions and located upon the outer faceportions ofsaid body, and a clamping edgeportion extending inwardly from saidoffset in biting engagement with the said outer face-portions of saidbody, said cover registering with said frame and ccdperating with saidseat to provide a perfect closure of said cover with said body.

9. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body. said frame comprising apair of vertically disposed portions and an upper connecting member,arranged to provide a receiving part in which the upper portions of thebody are arranged, one of said vertically disposed portions beingprovided at pro-determined points with cut away parts, an off-setforming a seat extending outwardly from one of said vertically disposedportions and located upon the outer face-portions of said body, combinedwith a cover, a channel-shaped frame arranged over the marginaledge-portions of said cover, and a means of pivotal connection betweensaid channel-shaped frame and the frame of said body said channel-shapedframe of they cover registering with the frame of said body andcooperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure of said coverwith said body.

10. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprising apair of vertically disposed portions and an upper connecting member,arranged to provide a receiving part in which the upper portions of thebody are arranged, one of said vertically disposed portions beingprovided at pie-determined points with cut away parts, an off-setforming a. seat extending outwardly from one of said vertically disposedportions and located upon the outer face-portions of said body, and aclamping edge-portion extending inwardly from said off-set in bitingengagement with the said outer face-portions of said body, combined witha cover, a channelshaped frame arranged over the marginal edgeportionsof said cover, and a means of pivotal connection between saidchannel-shaped frame and the frame of said body said channel-shapedframe of the cover registering with the frame of said body andcooperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure of said coverwith said body.

11. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof and a covertherefor, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising an inner body-portion adapted to be arranged uponthe inner face-portions of said body at the upper marginal edge-portionsthereof, said inner body-portion being formed upon its upper marginaledge-portion with a curved outwardly and downwardly extending CO11-necting member, and an outer member extending downwardly from saidconnecting member, said outer member being of less depth than the depthof said inner bodyportion and forming with said inner bodyportion areceiving part in which the upper portions of the body are arranged,said outer and downwardly extending member being provided atpredetermined points with open parts. and an off-set forming a seatextending outwardly from said outer and downwardly extending member andlocated upon the outer faceportions of said body, said cover registeringwith said frame and co operating with said seat to provide a perfectclosure of said cover with said body.

12. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof and a covertherefor, of a ri id frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body,said frame comprising an inner body-portion adapted to be arranged uponthe inner face-portions of said body at the upper marginal edge-portionsthereof, said inner body-portion being formed upon its upper marginaledge-portion with a curved outwardly and downwardly extending connectingmember, and an outer member extending downwardly from said connectingmember, said outer member being of less depth than the depth of saidinner body portion and forming with said inner bodyportion a receivingpart in which the upper portions of the body are arranged, said outerand downwardly extending member being provided at predetermined pointswith open parts, an oif-set forming a seat extending outwardly from saidouter and downwardly extending member and located upon the outerface-portions of said body, and a clamping edge-portion extendinginwardly from said off-set in biting engagement with the said outerface-port1ons of said body, said cover registering with said frame andcooperating with said seat to provide a perfect closure of said coverwith said body.

13. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a. bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprisingan inner body-portion adapted to be arranged upon the innerface-portions of said body at the upper marginal edge portions thereof,said inner body-portion being formed upon its upper marginal edgeportionwith a curved outwardly and downwardly extending connecting member, andan outer member extending downwardly from said connecting member, saidouter member being of less depth than the depth of said innerbody-portion and forming with said inner body-portion a receiving partin which the upper portions of the body are arranged, said outer anddownwardly extending member being provided at predetermined points withopen parts, an off-set forming a seat extending outwardly from saidouterand downwardly extending mem her and located upon the outerface-portions of said body, combined with a cover, a channel-shapedframe arranged over the marginal edge portions of said cover, and ameans of pivotal connection between said channel-shaped frame and theframe of said body, said channel-shaped frame of the cover registeringwith the frame of said body and cooperating with said seat to provide aperfect closure of said cover with said body.

14. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidframe to give a bevel to the edge of said body, said frame comprising aninner body-portion adapted to be arranged upon the inner face-portionsof said body at the upper marginal edge-portions thereof, said innerbody-portion being formed upon its upper marginal edge-portion with acurved outwardly and downwardly extending connecting member, and a nouter member extending downwardly from said connecting member, saidouter member being of less depth than the depth of said innerbody-portion and forming with said inner body-portion a receiving partin which the upper portions of the body are arranged, said outer anddownwardly extending member being provided at pro-determined points withopen parts, an off-set forming a seat extending outwardly from saidouter and downwardly extending member and located upon the outerface-portions of said body, and a clamping edge-portion extendinginwardly from said off-set in biting engagement with the said outerface-portions of said body, combined with a cover, a channelshaped framearranged over the marginal edge-portions of said cover, and a means ofpivotal connection between said channelshaped frame and the frame ofsaid body, said channel-shaped frame of the cover registering with theframe of said body and cooperating with said seat to provide a perfectclosure of said cover with said body.

15. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidbody-frame comprising a pair of frame-sections, one of saidframe-sections consisting of a pair of verti cally disposed portions andan upper connecting member adapted to be arranged upon the uppermarginal edge-portions of the front and end-members of said body, and anoff-set extending outwardly from one of said vertically disposedportions and located upon the outer face-portions of the front andend-members of said body, said second frame-section consisting of a pairof vertically disposed portions and an upper connecting member adaptedto be arranged upon the upper marginal edge-portion of the back memberof said body, and a plurality of pintle-receiving members extending fromone of the marginal edge-portions of the outer vertically disposedportion of said second-mentioned frame-section, combined with a cover, achannel-shaped frame arranged over the marginal edge-portions of saidcover, a strip of metal secured to said channel-shaped frame, aplurality of pintlereceiving members extending from the marginaledge-portion of said strip adapted to be brought into registration withthe pintlereceiving members of said second-mentioned framesection of thebody-frame, and a pin tie-rod in said registering pintle-receivingmembers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In a receptacle, the combination with the body thereof, of a rigidbody-framecomprising a pair of frame-sections, one of saidframe-sections consisting of a pair of'vertically disposed portions andan upper connecting member adapted to be arranged upon the uppermarginal edge-portions of the front'and end-members of'said body, anoff-set extending outwardly from one of said vertically disposedportions and, located upon the outer face-portions of the front andend-members of said body, and a clamping edgeportion extending inwardlyfrom said offset in biting engagement with the said outer face-portionsof said front and end-members of said body, said second frame-sectionconsisting of a pair of vertically disposed portions and an upperconnecting member adapted to be arranged upon the upper marginaledge-portion of the back member of said body, and a plurality ofpintle-receiving members extending from one of the marginaledgeqiortions of the outer vertically disposed portion of saidsecond-mentioned frame-section, combined with a cover, a channel-shapedframe arranged over the marginal edge-portions of said cover, a strip ofmetal secured to said channel-shaped frame, a plurality ofpintle-receiving members extending from the marginal edge-portion ofsaid strip adapted to be brought into registration with the pintle-ieceiving members of said second-mentioned frame-section of the bodyframe, and aprintle-rod in said registering PlIIlJl6-I'8CB1V- ingmembers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 7th day of March, 1913.

HUGO TUECKMANTEL.

WVitnesses FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. F RAENTZEL'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

